Big Ten basketball power rankings: Look out for Nebraska

Another week of college basketball action saw significant movement in the Big Ten Conference. Out of nowhere, the Nebraska Cornhuskers are 11-0 to start the season and are quickly ascending the national rankings. They dominated the Wisconsin Badgers on Wednesday night, handing Greg Gard the most lopsided loss of his coaching career.

Along with Nebraska, Michigan, Purdue, Michigan State and UCLA are tied atop the conference standings at 2-0. That top group will likely remain consistent over the next few weeks before the Big Ten schedule intensifies in early January.

As we enter the final stretch of nonconference play, here is an updated snapshot of the full conference power rankings. Michigan remains the leader.

Updated Big Ten Basketball Power Rankings (Dec. 15)

1. Michigan Wolverines (10-0, 2-0 Big Ten; No. 1 in KenPom) — No change
2. Purdue Boilermakers (10-1, 2-0 Big Ten; No. 6 in KenPom) — No change
3. Michigan State Spartans (9-1, 2-0 Big Ten; No. 12 in KenPom) — No change
4. Illinois Fighting Illini (8-3, 1-1 Big Ten; No. 14 in KenPom) — No change
5. Nebraska Cornhuskers (11-0, 2-0 Big Ten; No. 21 in KenPom) — Up 6
6. Iowa Hawkeyes (9-2, 1-1 Big Ten; No. 20 in KenPom) — No change
7. USC Trojans (10-1, 1-1 Big Ten; No. 38 in KenPom) — No change
8. Indiana Hoosiers (8-3, 1-1 Big Ten; No. 26 in KenPom) — Up 2
9. Wisconsin Badgers (7-3, 1-1 Big Ten; No. 37 in KenPom) — Down 4
10. Ohio State Buckeyes (8-2, 1-1 Big Ten; No. 39 in KenPom) — Down 1
11. UCLA Bruins (7-3, 2-0 Big Ten; No. 31 in KenPom) — Down 3
12. Washington Huskies (7-3, 1-1 Big Ten; No. 48 in KenPom) — No change
13. Northwestern Wildcats (6-4, 0-2 Big Ten; No. 58 in KenPom) — Up 1
14. Oregon Ducks (5-5, 0-2 Big Ten; No. 84 in KenPom) — Up 3
15. Maryland Terrapins (6-5, 0-2 Big Ten; No. 100 in KenPom) — No change
16. Minnesota Golden Gophers (6-5, 1-1 Big Ten; No. 108 in KenPom) — No change
17. Penn State Nittany Lions (8-3, 0-2 Big Ten; No. 107 in KenPom) — Down 4
18. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (5-6, 0-2 Big Ten; No. 147 in KenPom) — No change

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